Here are the latest rugby headlines for Wednesday, October 5.
Gatland set for TV role
Former Wales boss Warren Gatland will be giving his thoughts on his old charges during this season's autumn series, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper report that the Kiwi has signed up with broadcaster Amazon Prime and will be offering his opinions on how Wayne Pivac's side are getting on as the countdown to the 2023 World Cup really begins.
Gatland is obviously well-placed to pass comment, having taken Wales into three consecutive World Cups, in 2011, 2015 and 2019. He will also be offering his verdict on England and his old sparring partner Eddie Jones, with whom he exchanged a number of verbal rallies during his time in charge of Wales until the end of 2019.
Cardiff BUCS derby sells 4,000 tickets
A BUCS clash between Cardiff Met and Cardiff University has sold out its allocation of 4,000 ahead of Wednesday night's game.
Tickets went within 10 days of becoming available and is all the more impressive given it is the first time students have been charged to go through the turnstiles in Wales. Cardiff Rugby also agreed to up the allocation of tickets at the Arms Park, such was the demand.
It will be the highest-attended BUCS match in Wales and fans are in for a treat. The three matches between the two sides last year were decided by a combined five points, with Cardiff Met coming out on top in all three.
“They were all very close games last season and we know it’s going to take a huge effort to turn those near misses into a victory,” said Cardiff University men's director of rugby Alan Flowers. “We all know how good Cardiff Met are from the top down and in games of small margins you have to take your chances. We’ve lost a couple of players with injuries from our bonus-point win in Bath last week, but everyone is going to be up for this game."
Cardiff Met: Oliver Gibbon; Jake Thomas, Joe Westwood, Bingo Ivanesivic, Roma Zheng; Brad Roderick-Evans, Rory Morgan; Joe Cowell (captain), Tyler Olding, Eliot Salt, Brandon Harvey, Barny Langton, Jack Wickham, Ewan Guy, Jake Bond.
Replacements: Gabe Mead, Dai O-Manteaw, Math I-Scott, Barnaby Waddell, Ardal Yallop, Ali Stacey, Ethan Morgan, Dafydd Tiueti.
Cardiff University: Felix Gilbert; Max Ashton, Luke Pollock (captain), Oscar DeVenter, Rhydian Williams; Ed Dunford, Josh Thomas; Theo Bavacqua, Ben Chapman, Adam Williams, Ethan Phillips, Alex Ashton, Billy Moxley, Gwilym Evans, George Shaw.
Replacements: Ed Thompson, Lewys Williams, James Pollard, Ben Roberts, James R. Roberts, Dai Jones, Cam Scott, Pelo Kgalthanye.
Rugby authorities told to cut number of games
Rugby authorities have been told they should look to eliminate contact training and reduce rather than expand the global calendar after a study revealed concerning evidence of considerably increased risk of motor neurone disease among former players. A study led by the University of Glasgow looking at former Scotland internationals - from both the amateur era and later professional players - found ex-rugby players had more than twice the risk of a neurodegenerative disease, and a 15-times higher risk of a motor neurone disease diagnosis.
Consultant neuropathologist Prof Willie Stewart, who led the research, said it raised immediate questions for rugby authorities to mitigate the risks.
"I am genuinely concerned about what is happening in the modern game, and that if, in 20 years' time, we repeat this study we would see something even more concerning" Stewart said. "Rugby has talked a lot and done a lot about head injury management and whether it can reduce head injury during (training). Those conversations have gone on a while and the pace of progress is pretty slow.
"This should be a stimulus to them to pick up their heels to make some pretty dramatic changes as quickly as possible to try and reduce risk. Instead of talking about extending seasons and introducing new competitions and global seasons they should be talking about restricting it as much as possible, cutting back on the amount of rugby we're seeing and getting rid of as much training as possible. Things like that have to be addressed pretty rapidly."
The study, published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, compared health outcomes among 412 male, Scottish, former international rugby players and more than 1,200 matched individuals from the general population. It was part-funded by the Football Association and Professional Footballers' Association, building on the landmark 2019 study which found former professional footballers had an approximately three and a half times higher rate of death from neurodegenerative disease than expected. Stewart said the numbers found had come as a "big surprise" and more work - including a broader study - was now needed to fully understand their meaning, although the immediate message for the game was clear.
Asked what steps should be taken within the game, he added: "Contact training during the week should be viewed as virtually a thing of the past, getting rid of as much as possible. Look at the number of matches being played and ask, 'Is this credible that young men and women can be playing week-in, week-out, for the majority of the year just for entertainment?'... I know it's tough to think about there being less rugby rather than more but maybe less is more if you see better quality rugby, the players are less damaged and fitter. You can't continue to put young men and women through what they're being put through now we know even from the amateur era there's this risk of brain disease."
Wasps buy more time
Duncan Bech, PA
Wasps have bought more time in their bid to lift the financially stricken club out of crisis by filing a second notice of intention to appoint administrators. A statement issued by Wasps Holdings Limited revealed that talks are at "a relatively advanced stage" with possible investors in the face of a winding up order from HM Revenue and Customs for £2million in unpaid tax.
The Gallagher Premiership club is also struggling to repay the £35million bond that was raised to help finance their relocation from High Wycombe to Coventry in 2014 that was due in May.
Worcester have been placed into administration and face liquidation on Wednesday because of an action brought by HMRC. Wasps are desperate to escape the same fate.
"A second notice of intention to appoint administrators has been filed to allow negotiations on securing its long-term future to continue and to protect the interests of the group," a spokesperson for Wasps Holdings Limited said. "Since filing the original notice of intention on September 21, a number of additional potential investors and funders have come forward.
"Discussions are now at a relatively advanced stage and we remain hopeful of securing a deal that will allow the group, and the entities that sit within it, to move forward. We would like to thank all stakeholders for their engagement during this process and in particular the constructive support and approach provided by the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby.
"This will continue to be vitally important as negotiations with interested parties proceed and we remain in regular dialogue with both organisations. While the financial circumstances facing the group are extremely challenging, we remain optimistic about a positive outcome and will keep our players, staff, supporters, partners, bond holders and suppliers updated as this process moves forward."
Failure to secure the finance needed to prevent administration could result in automatic relegation from the Premiership. However, the Rugby Football Union has the discretion to reduce or waive any sanction if the insolvency was deemed to be beyond the control of the club, including in the event of a pandemic.
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